Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Windsor Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Homeowners have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most popular choice in Windsor, used by 99,824 or 35% of families. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Windsor residents is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The remaining homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Windsor County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55,373 | 57,954 | 36,366 | 99,824 | 33,030 | 1,820 | 4,366 |
| 2024 | 56,646 | 56,523 | 33,651 | 101,281 | 30,344 | 1,660 | 4,241 |
| 2023 | 48,131 | 54,853 | 27,940 | 102,091 | 38,497 | 1,670 | 4,784 |
| 2022 | 50,240 | 51,520 | 24,105 | 105,894 | 36,184 | 1,106 | 6,886 |
| 2021 | 50,677 | 51,992 | 22,510 | 105,005 | 33,125 | 1,349 | 4,533 |
| 2020 | 49,752 | 50,131 | 19,616 | 106,832 | 33,799 | 948 | 4,630 |
| 2019 | 48,826 | 48,270 | 16,723 | 108,658 | 34,473 | 547 | 4,727 |
| 2018 | 47,328 | 44,423 | 14,122 | 108,961 | 40,731 | 819 | 3,930 |
| 2017 | 47,036 | 43,339 | 14,035 | 107,395 | 38,840 | 612 | 3,997 |
| 2016 | 46,388 | 42,621 | 14,097 | 106,498 | 39,455 | 571 | 3,822 |
| 2015 | 45,256 | 40,280 | 12,610 | 108,532 | 42,271 | 263 | 4,298 |
| 2014 | 43,091 | 38,116 | 11,250 | 115,387 | 43,828 | 179 | 4,258 |
| 2013 | 42,192 | 38,339 | 11,779 | 111,011 | 44,411 | 257 | 3,630 |
| 2012 | 41,601 | 38,497 | 12,532 | 114,708 | 46,051 | 206 | 3,749 |
| 2011 | 39,163 | 39,551 | 10,855 | 122,786 | 41,261 | 98 | 2,834 |
| 2010 | 41,357 | 35,529 | 13,667 | 122,832 | 38,777 | 122 | 3,182 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Windsor
Oil has become decreasing in demand in Windsor. In the 2 years since 2023, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 102,091 to 99,824, a 2% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Windsor
Between 2023 and today, the number of homes using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 54,853 to 57,954, a 6% change. Comparing 2023 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 48,131 to 55,373, a 15% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Windsor
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Windsor. Since 2023, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 27,940 to 36,366, a 30% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Windsor
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 1,820 homes in Windsor are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 9% gain from 2023, when 1,670 homes used active solar heating.
Windsor County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Windsor County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Windsor’s overall oil consumption varies annually as winter conditions change. As the temperature outside gets more chilly, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Windsor was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Windsor County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Windsor County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Windsor households heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Windsor can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Windsor. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic fuel oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in return for better prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Windsor cash heating oil companies serving Windsor include BART Energy Llc and Jam Fuel Llc.
Windsor Number Two Heating Oil Company Fast Facts: Heating oil Companies Serving Windsor: 7 companies .
Average Number of Windsor Households Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 14261
Windsor Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 houses in Windsor heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Windsor temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Windsor houses are reliant on heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Windsor County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Windsor County Households | Windsor County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
34 Windsor Oil Companies Go The Distance
With 92,108,924 gallons of heating oil delivered to Windsor homeowners last winter, the Windsor community depends on its 34 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Windsor, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Windsor and the surrounding vicinity.
